Fundamental traffic planning and selection of equipment 3-19

Mr J Smith-Test MCIBSE, websupport@cibse.org, 14:59PM 10/06/2016

The traffic patterns in hotels are complex, and are not Table 3.12 Occupancy factors (persons) for residential
comparable to the morning and afternoon peaks in an office buildings
building. The most demanding times are at check-out Type Luxury Normal Low income
(08:00 to 10:00) and check-in (17:00 to 19:00). At these Studio 1.0 1.5 2.0
times heavy two-way traffic occurs with guests going to and 1 bedroom 1.5 1.8 2.0
from rooms, restaurants and in and out of the hotel. The 2 bedroom 2.0 3.0 4.0
arrival rate might change according to the star rating (*) of 3 bedroom 3.0 4.0 6.0
the hotel. Assume an arrival rate in the range of 10% (1*) to
15% (5*) and an interval range of 30 seconds (5*) to 50
seconds (1*). Table 3.12 does not include large luxury category residential
buildings, but it is suggested that a four bedroom
Calculations should be made assuming equal numbers of ‘apartment’ would have a population of four persons and a
up and down stops at these times. penthouse would have five persons.

At most other times lifts are unlikely to load to fill to more
than 50%. However, the lift sizes should be at least 1275 kg,
in order to accommodate luggage and provide guests with
uncrowded and comfortable travel conditions.
Design tip: as a rule of thumb assume one lift for
every 90–100 keys and there should be one
passenger/goods lift for every two passenger lifts.
Caution: this rule should be used with care as it
would not be suitable for a low rise hotel with 30%
of its rooms at the entrance level. Neither would it
be suitable for a high rise hotel with a small
footprint. There are also differences between the
operational needs of a ‘transit’ hotel near to airports,
etc. where guests stay one night and hotels used by
longer term and holiday guests.
Caution: some properties are bought as investments
and are often unoccupied. This absenteeism may
have an effect on passenger service.
The commonly used design period for a residential building
is the afternoon, 5-minute, two-way traffic condition, which
is considered the most demanding traffic period. During
this period of time, people enter and leave the building.
The lifts load passengers at the main lobby, distribute these
passengers to various upper floors, reverse direction at the
uppermost hall call, stopping in the down direction for
additional passengers and transporting them to the main
lobby. In low income housing (e.g. housing association),
where many children and adults are leaving for school and
work at the same time, the morning down peak may also be
very heavy. Table 3.13 gives guidance.

There are no changes required to equation 3.1. Table 3.13 Design criteria: residential buildings
(5-minute, two-way)
Type Luxury Normal Low income
3.15.7 Offices Interval (s) 45–50 50–60 50–70

Much of this chapter is concerned with lifts in commercial Two-way handling 8 6–8 5–7
capacity (%)
office buildings. The British Council for Offices publishes
general guidance.
Caution: the value suggested for interval is nominal
3.15.8 Railway stations and should be calculated for an 80% occupied car.

Railway stations may be served mainly by stairs and
pedestrian ramps, although some, particularly the deeper
underground stations, use escalators. Generally railway
stations, whether above or below ground, have poor
provision of lifts. This may change as the requirements to
assist persons with limited mobility are applied.
In residential and low income flats one passenger lift should
be large enough (say 1600 kg) to allow furniture movement,
accommodate stretchers and to handle other service needs.
Luxury flats may include a separate goods lift for furniture,
trades-people and domestic help. These goods lifts should
have rated loads of at least 2000 kg.

Passengers wishing to move from one level to another with
hand baggage may find this difficult. When baggage trolleys
are used these difficulties increase. As with shopping
centres (section 3.15.11) a solution to this problem is to
install inclined moving walks. This also greatly improves
circulation.
There are no changes required to equation 3.1.
Each flat should have access to an alternative lift during
maintenance or out of service conditions.
Penthouse apartments may require special considerations
regarding occupancy and lift provision.
There are no changes required to equation 3.1.

3.15.9 Residential buildings 3.15.10 Residential care homes and

The estimation of the population in a residential building
is usually based on the number of bedrooms and the
occupancy per bedroom. Suitable rules of thumb for the
number of persons occupying a flat (apartment) are given
in Table 3.12.
nursing homes
Homes generally have a low traffic requirement, which can
be catered for by a single lift or lifting platform. Larger
homes might acquire a second lift giving security of service
in the event of break down or maintenance.